Sagira Morshed murder: Daughter of sister testifies

Dilruba Nusrat Jahan, daughter of the elder sister of victim, has testified in a court in sensational Sagira Morshed murder case at Siddeswari in the capital.

Dilruba Nusrat Jahan, daughter of the elder sister of victim, has testified in a court in sensational Sagira Morshed murder case at Siddeswari in the capital.

She testified at the court of Dhaka's Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 judge Rafiqul Islam on Wednesday (February 15, 2023).

On that day, lawyers of the accused cross-examined her. However, her deposition was not ended on Wednesday. The court set February 16 next for rest of the cross-examination and recording testimonies.

The lawyers of the defendant have taken the depositions of 10 witnesses in the case so far.

The accused of the case are Sagira Morshed's elder brother-in-law Dr Hasan Ali Chowdhury, his wife Sayedatul Mahmuda alias Shahin, Hasan Ali's brother-in-law Anas Mahmud alias Rezwan and hired killer Maruf Reza.

It may be mentioned that Sagira Morshed, 34, was gunned down by unidentified muggers in front of Viqarunnisa Noon School and College in the capital's Bailey Road on July 25, 1989 when she went there to bring her daughter.

Sagira's husband Salam Chowdhury filed the case on that day with Ramna Police Station against unidentified persons. A rickshaw-puller, who was present at the crime scene, identified two of the killers, but police had filed the initial charge sheet against one Mantu.

Dhaka First Additional Sessions Judge Abu Bakar Siddique framed charges against Mantu on January 17, 1991, and recorded testimonies of seven witnesses.

But during the hearing, the prosecution alleged that the name of Maruf Reza, a close relative of the then home minister Mahmudul Hasan, came up during the investigation and was also arrested. But his name was dropped from the charge sheet.

Following a plea of the prosecution, the court ordered further investigation on May 23, 1991. But the proceedings were stayed by the High Court as Maruf Reza filed a petition.

On June 26, 2019, the High Court cleared the way for continuing the murder case as it dismissed the rule that had stayed the trial proceedings. The bench comprising Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman also asked the PBI to conduct further investigation into the case and complete it within 60 working days.